Riise and Kewell on the left.

[Guest Kaizer]

Is it a coincidence Riise had one of his better games in a while today with Kewell in front of him?

 

I have said it for a long while that Riise needs someone he trusts infront of him to really "play" football instead of just go for the long ball most of the time.

 

When Kewell is playing infront of Riise, Riise knows the ball will stick in the team when he play a short pass, he know its not a huge risk going on the overlap etc and this gives him more confidence on the ball and makes him a better player.

 

They worked great together in the 05/06 season and with Kewell now back from injuries I also predict we will see the best of Riise.

[JRC]

I thnk Riise was in specifically to deal with the threat from Davies playing out wide, and that he did admirably as well as getting forward well

[Conor]

I think that your love of Rise is making you come to any conclusion that he deserves his place in the team. The term clutching at straws comes to mind. He had an alright game today against a very poor team and I just don't see how someone could come to the conclusion that you just have. He is an average player who I feel has been left behind by an improving squad. Sorry to sound harsh on your opinions but if Insua had have played in that game I feel that he would have matched the performance of Riise.

[kenny7]

Is it a coincidence Riise had one of his better games in a while today with Kewell in front of him?

 

I have said it for a long while that Riise needs someone he trusts infront of him to really "play" football instead of just go for the long ball most of the time.

 

When Kewell is playing infront of Riise, Riise knows the ball will stick in the team when he play a short pass, he know its not a huge risk going on the overlap etc and this gives him more confidence on the ball and makes him a better player.

 

They worked great together in the 05/06 season and with Kewell now back from injuries I also predict we will see the best of Riise.

 

 

Am I correct in saying then, that if we conceide from our left hand side, thats Finnans fault, and Riise's poor performances except for today, is down to who ever is playing left midfield?

[Guest Kaizer]

I think that your love of Rise is making you come to any conclusion that he deserves his place in the team. The term clutching at straws comes to mind. He had an alright game today against a very poor team and I just don't see how someone could come to the conclusion that you just have. He is an average player who I feel has been left behind by an improving squad. Sorry to sound harsh on your opinions but if Insua had have played in that game I feel that he would have matched the performance of Riise.

 

I dont love Riise at all, but it is a point I have been making for a long time.

 

Riise is not the best on the ball and he is also a confidence player.

 

To have a player like Kewell infront of him which seldom gives the ball away and who is able to keep the ball long enough for Riise to going on an successful overlap will bring out the best of him.

 

Riise and Aurelio have also been good together with Aurelio in front of Riise, we started to see this before Aurelio got injured last season for many of the same reasons.

 

Its not clutching at straws at all, its all about complementary abilities, some might realise it, others wont.

[Falconhoof]

You've gone wrong in your mind-tank Kaizer.

[Guest Kaizer]

Am I correct in saying then, that if we conceide from our left hand side, thats Finnans fault, and Riise's poor performances except for today, is down to who ever is playing left midfield?

 

No.

 

But if you admitted you are a clown you would be correct.

Edited December 2, 2007 by Kaizer

[IgPig]

9/10 it doesn't matter who is in front of Riise as they spend most of the game watching the ball fly over their head.

 

That said - he did OK today apart from some ridiculous shots. One from the half way line when Babel was free on the left was mental.

 

Prefer Arbeloa/Aurelio at left back.

Edited December 2, 2007 by Post Kuytal Glow

[kenny7]

No.

 

But if you said you are a clown you would be correct.

 

Or maybe I've been reading a clowns coments

[Mike]

riise had his first half decent game in living memory today so he uses it as an excuse to do his f***ing ridiculous 40 yard shots after about 50 minutes. f*** off riise!

kewell was poor today, i reckon its to be expected though after such a long lay off. he's had 2 good games, the 3rd his form deserted him. think it will be like that for a while yet/

[Benitez]

"I have said it for a long while that Riise needs someone he trusts infront of him to really "play" football instead of just go for the long ball most of the time."

 

what does that mean?

 

It's whoever plays in front of him that's at fault for him hoofing it constantly, is that what it means?

 

He was alright today, untlil he started with his idiotic blast 'em from 40 yards lark in the final quarter of the game.

[Guest Kaizer]

9/10 it doesn't matter who is in front of Riise as they spend most of the game watching the ball fly over their head.

 

That said - he did OK today apart from some ridiculous shots. One from the half way line when Babel was free on the left was mental.

 

Prefer Arbeloa/Aurelio at left back.

 

So you did not get the point did you?

[Knox_Harrington]

One of Riise's efforts bordered on offensive today.

 

He did OK but he's an infuriating motherf***** who needs to sort his head out.

[IgPig]

So you did not get the point did you?

 

 

I did - but chose to ignore it as its a typically loopy one.

[Jarg Armani]

Yon Reese did have his best game for a year today, he still needs to leave the club like, but he was solid defensively and didn't manage to break up too many promising situations with brainless tonks.

 

Kewell looks terrific, has slotted in so well since the second he came on at ewood. it's a f***in boon having him back and no mistake.

[Rich Gobey]

Is it a coincidence Riise had one of his better games in a while today with Kewell in front of him?

 

I have said it for a long while that Riise needs someone he trusts infront of him to really "play" football instead of just go for the long ball most of the time.

 

When Kewell is playing infront of Riise, Riise knows the ball will stick in the team when he play a short pass, he know its not a huge risk going on the overlap etc and this gives him more confidence on the ball and makes him a better player.

 

They worked great together in the 05/06 season and with Kewell now back from injuries I also predict we will see the best of Riise.

 

I think thats actually a very good point.

[Conor]

I dont love Riise at all, but it is a point I have been making for a long time.

 

Riise is not the best on the ball and he is also a confidence player.

 

To have a player like Kewell infront of him which seldom gives the ball away and who is able to keep the ball long enough for Riise to going on an successful overlap will bring out the best of him.

 

Riise and Aurelio have also been good together with Aurelio in front of Riise, we started to see this before Aurelio got injured last season for many of the same reasons.

 

Its not clutching at straws at all, its all about complementary abilities, some might realise it, others wont.

 

Kaizer... Trust me. I know all about complementary abilities. I have had the pleasure to watch Fernando Torres in a red shirt this season and it is clear to see that he has so much quality that he will compliment anyone he plays with. Steven Gerrard has also had a number of central midfield partners this season and I have also seen that his quality is complimented by any of our central midfielders. Carra will perform excellently well when Agger returns, Finnan and Arbeloa do just perfectly regardless of who is in front of them. And as we have learned with Rafa all of the players must be ready to play in his system regardless of the other players around them. If Riise needs Harry kewell in front of him to perform well then it has confirmed what many on this forum have thought for a long long time. That he is not good enough to command his position in the team and be a permanent fixture in a team to win the premiership.

[Guest Kaizer]

"I have said it for a long while that Riise needs someone he trusts infront of him to really "play" football instead of just go for the long ball most of the time."

 

what does that mean?

 

It's whoever plays in front of him that's at fault for him hoofing it constantly, is that what it means?

 

He was alright today, untlil he started with his idiotic blast 'em from 40 yards lark in the final quarter of the game.

 

The player infront of Riise would not be at fault for anything, but a consequense of Riise having someone he trusts to not lose the ball infront of him will see him playing the short pass a lot more often, Kewell is such a player and in some parts the same can be said about Aurelio.

 

These two are players that are good on the ball, the seldom loses it to the opposition so this will make Riise take more chances in his game and play it short.

 

He has addressed the point that Rafa want security above all from his defenders, so if he does not feel secure playing the short pass to a player that is likely to lose possession he will get it out of defense with a long ball instead.

 

I would have thought this was pretty obvious, but obviously not.

 

This post was not so much about his performance today, more about trying to explain why we saw him play it more short and why we saw him taking more initiativs going forward.

[Herbie von Smalls]

Kaizer... Trust me. I know all about complementary abilities. I have had the pleasure to watch Fernando Torres in a red shirt this season and it is clear to see that he has so much quality that he will compliment anyone he plays with. Steven Gerrard has also had a number of central midfield partners this season and I have also seen that his quality is complimented by any of our central midfielders. Carra will perform excellently well when Agger returns, Finnan and Arbeloa do just perfectly regardless of who is in front of them. And as we have learned with Rafa all of the players must be ready to play in his system regardless of the other players around them. If Riise needs Harry kewell in front of him to perform well then it has confirmed what many on this forum have thought for a long long time. That he is not good enough to command his position in the team and be a permanent fixture in a team to win the premiership.

'word'... i believe the term is

[IgPig]

Who are the players on the left that are so crap on the ball, that poor little Johnny has to unleash rockets for 90 minutes?

Edited December 2, 2007 by Post Kuytal Glow

[Guest Kaizer]

If Riise needs Harry kewell in front of him to perform well then it has confirmed what many on this forum have thought for a long long time. That he is not good enough to command his position in the team and be a permanent fixture in a team to win the premiership.

 

He does not need Kewell infront of him to perform, but he will perform better with Kewell infront of him and he will perform on such a level that it would make him one of the best, if not the best LB in the league.

[lfc003]

I also think it helps Riise alot that Kewell will stay on the touchline and keep the width..so many times Riise with hoof the ball forward mainly due to him having no real passing option down the line and not having the confidence to come infield onto his weaker foot

 

A inform Riise is still our best option at left back and i hope he gets his form back for us.

[Jarg Armani]

He does not need Kewell infront of him to perform, but he will perform better with Kewell infront of him and he will perform on such a level that it would make him one of the best, if not the best LB in the league.

and our survey saaaaid...

[kenny7]

Can you imagine Riise having the audacity to have a lack of confidence in someones passing ability

[Benitez]

The player infront of Riise would not be at fault for anything, but a consequense of Riise having someone he trusts to not lose the ball infront of him will see him playing the short pass a lot more often, Kewell is such a player and in some parts the same can be said about Aurelio.

 

These two are players that are good on the ball, the seldom loses it to the opposition so this will make Riise take more chances in his game and play it short.

 

He has addressed the point that Rafa want security above all from his defenders, so if he does not feel secure playing the short pass to a player that is likely to lose possession he will get it out of defense with a long ball instead.

I would have thought this was pretty obvious, but obviously not.

 

This post was not so much about his performance today, more about trying to explain why we saw him play it more short and why we saw him taking more initiativs going forward.

 

 

seriously, stop with the patronising bulls***, and maybe people will give you the time of day here.

 

Maybe it's the fact that he can't use his right foot that causes him to hoof so much.

 

Maybe it's because he isn't an intelligent footballer that causes him shoot from 40 yards over and over again, rather than pass or try and keep possession.

 

Maybe it's these things that are his problem, not who plays in front of him.

 

Having weaker players in front of them haven't stopped other full backs in the past, and caused them to lump the ball all over the place.